1 Samuel 13 2

1 Samuel 13:2 kjv

Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

1 Samuel 13:2 nkjv

Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent.

1 Samuel 13:2 niv

Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.

1 Samuel 13:2 esv

Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent.

1 Samuel 13:2 nlt

Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took 2,000 of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other 1,000 went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin.

1 Samuel 13 verses

1 Samuel 13 2 Meaning

1 Samuel 13:2 details King Saul's strategic organization of Israel's military force at the onset of his reign's challenges. He personally selected a core army of three thousand men, dividing them into two distinct companies. Two thousand men were placed under his direct command in the central hill country at Michmash and Bethel, while the remaining thousand were stationed with his son Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the men who had perhaps gathered for a general muster were then dismissed, returning to their homes, signaling a shift from a temporary tribal levy to a more structured, though still nascent, standing army. This division positioned key elements of Israel's strength at crucial defensive points against the dominant Philistine threat, setting the stage for future conflict.

1 Samuel 13 2 Context

1 Samuel 13:2 occurs relatively early in Saul's kingship, after his public anointing and the initial validation of his rule through the successful liberation of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites (Chapter 11). Following this victory, Samuel had formally acknowledged Saul's kingship before the nation, re-emphasizing the people's responsibility to obey God (Chapter 12). This verse immediately sets the stage for the major conflict with the Philistines, who were Israel's dominant adversary at this time, technologically and militarily superior due to their mastery of iron. Unlike the previous general muster for a specific threat, Saul here establishes a more permanent, organized fighting force, a key characteristic of an evolving monarchy. He divides his core troops and positions them strategically in the central highlands to counter Philistine encroachment, preparing for a confrontation that will soon erupt with Jonathan's daring attack on a Philistine garrison.

1 Samuel 13 2 Word analysis

• Saul: שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul). The newly established king, tasked with defending Israel. His decision-making here initiates a more centralized military structure than had previously existed under the judges, signifying a king's role in leadership and defense.
• chose: בָּחַר (bachar). Means "to choose," "to select," "to test." This is a deliberate act of personal selection by Saul, indicating an intentional formation of a loyal and capable fighting force rather than a general levy of all available men. This points to the king exercising his authority in military organization.
• three thousand men of Israel: A specific, relatively small number compared to a national muster (e.g., 330,000 against Ammon in 1 Sam 11:8). This denotes a chosen, standing army, likely professional or semi-professional, unlike a temporary call-up for specific campaigns. It reflects the nascent state of Israel's monarchical military.
• Michmash: מִכְמָשׁ (Mikhmash). A strategically important pass and town located in the tribal territory of Benjamin. Its position provided a strong defensive advantage in the central highlands, crucial for controlling access between the Judean and Benjaminite territories and the Philistine plains.
• Bethel: בֵּית־אֵל (Bethel). Meaning "house of God." A significant religious and strategic center, bordering Ephraim and Benjamin. Its proximity to Michmash implies Saul's primary force was concentrated in a defensible, central location.
• Jonathan: יְהוֹנָתָן (Yehonatan). Saul's son. His command of a third of the chosen force demonstrates his growing leadership and military prowess early in Saul's reign, foreshadowing his pivotal role in the upcoming battles. His name means "Yahweh has given."
• Gibeah of Benjamin: גִּבְעַת בִּנְיָמִין (Gib'at Binyamin). "Hill of Benjamin." This was Saul's hometown and likely served as a base or headquarters. Placing Jonathan here secured a key Benjamite location close to Philistine strongholds further west and south, acting as a forward base or second line of defense.
• sent home: שָׁלַח (shalach). "To send," "to let go," "to dismiss." This action indicates a deliberate demobilization of the general populace, clarifying that Saul desired a compact, chosen force rather than an unwieldy mass. It marks the transition from citizen-soldiers gathering ad-hoc to a defined royal army.
• every man to his tent: אִישׁ לְאֹהָלָיו (ish l'ohalav). An idiomatic expression meaning "to disperse," "to return to one's home." It highlights the return to normal civilian life for the majority who were not chosen, underscoring the shift to a professional military core.

1 Samuel 13 2 Bonus section

• The small size of this core force, especially in light of the vast armies mentioned elsewhere in Israel's history, highlights the early stage of the monarchy's military development. It underscores the challenges Israel faced against the technologically superior Philistines, who monopolized iron weaponry, while Israel largely lacked it.
• The deployment reveals Saul's focus on controlling the critical Benjaminite plateau, a historical flashpoint between Israel and its western adversaries. The strategy implies anticipation of a specific, imminent threat.
• While Saul "chose" these men, the text doesn't explicitly state if this choice was based on divine command or purely human military judgment. This detail becomes pertinent as the narrative of Saul's reign unfolds and God's relationship with him evolves, testing his obedience.

1 Samuel 13 2 Commentary

1 Samuel 13:2 presents Saul's inaugural step in organizing Israel's military as a centralized kingdom, moving beyond the tribal levies common in the era of the Judges. His personal selection of three thousand men demonstrates royal initiative and a focus on building a more permanent fighting force. The strategic division of these troops—two thousand with Saul in the crucial northern defensive positions of Michmash and Bethel, and a thousand with Jonathan in his own hometown, Gibeah of Benjamin—reflects a calculated defensive strategy against the encroaching Philistine power. This deliberate formation of a compact army, dismissing the bulk of the people, underscores Saul's practical approach to kingship, consolidating power and preparing for a structured, rather than ad-hoc, military confrontation. This organizational effort is significant because it establishes the foundational military structure of the Israelite monarchy, albeit still in its early and relatively limited phase compared to later kingdoms.